Highland Lassie

1823

An affair with the Duchess of Bedford

Commissioned to paint a portrait of Georgiana Russell, Duchess of Bedford; although she is twenty years older than he is, they begin an affair. Contemporary gossip had it that Landseer was the father of at least one of her children, Lady Rachel Russell.

1840

A severe nervous illness

In 1840, in his late thirties, he suffers a severe nervous illness, now believed to have been a substantial nervous breakdown; for the rest of his life he is troubled by recurring bouts of melancholy, hypochondria and depression, often aggravated by alcohol and drug use, yet he never stops drawing.

1850

Knighted

Landseer is knighted by the Queen.

1866

Declines the presidency of the Royal Academy

Elected President of the Royal Academy, Landseer declines the invitation, and the position goes to Francis Grant.

July 1872

Declared insane at his family's request

In the last few years of his life his mental stability is problematic, and at the request of his family he is declared insane in July 1872.

1. Oktober 1873

Died